ARCHIPELAGO I DESIGN STUDIO MELBOURNE SCHOOL OF DESIGN UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
ARCHITECTURE DESIGN THESIS
ADILAH IKRAM SHAH
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ARCHIPELAGO I DESIGN STUDIO MELBOURNE SCHOOL OF DESIGN UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE
The Archipelago Design Thesis Studio is without predisposition, clause, or opportunity to investigate one’s personal position with respect to the discipline, it is supposed to be adventurous and ambitious. It is not endeavour. Consequently, this thesis became a sort of inquisition, in which the roles of Architecture were interrogated. I have consciously tried to look beyond the prevailing concerns within the contemporary architectural discourse, to the very nature of Architecture itself. From the very beginning, my intention was to discover the possibility of architecture in relation to other spheres of daily life, in particular power and politics.
I felt that there exists a constant disconnection between architectural ideas on paper and its unintended consequences on other facets of life when these ideas become a reality. The Front Line uncovers the role of architecture in relation to expressions of power in space, and explores architecture as a political weapon in times of
I would like to thank my thesis supervisor, Tommy Joo, for his unwavering guidance, dedication and encouragement throughout the semester. His willingness and commitment has been a constant source of inspiration and motivation to all of us.
ADILAH IKRAM SHAH
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SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR CRITICS, GUESTS AND SUPPORTERS
PROF. PHILLIP GOAD DR. KAREN BURNS
CHAIR. DONALD BATES PROF. ALAN PERT
DENNIS PRIOR BYRON KINNAIRD KIM JANG YUN JOHAN HERMIJANTO MICHAEL ONG THOMAS STANISTREET
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KATIE CHECKEN CLARA FRIEDHOFF PATRICK HEGARTY ADILAH IKRAM SHAH JAYDEN KENNY STEPHANIE KITINGAN JANNETTE LE MARC MICUTA JACK PU
STUDIO LEADER: TOMMY JOO
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contents THE FRONT LINE // 010 THE CONFLICT // 036 THE EMBASSY // 040 THE PLACE // 052 THE LINES // 072 THE TEXTS // 078 THE CONCEPT // 090 THE PROCESS // 098
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FRONT LINE
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FRONT LINE n. 1.
A front or boundary, especially one between military, political, or ideological positions.
2.
The most advanced, exposed, or conspicuous element in any activity or situation
adj. 1.
Located or used at a military front.
2. or undertaking
ABSTRACT The line is the most abstract diagram of power as administered in space. In architecture, it becomes a political apparatus that subtly
perceived spatial discrimination, there can be a strong metaphor in the order of existing boundary lines being confronted and penetrated by a newer order of lines.
space. The line traditionally The new High Commission of Singapore thus becomes an analogy of the changing power relationships between Malaysia and Singapore. The physicality of the diplomatic process is fragmented so that Using the existing High spaces for public congregation Commission of Singapore in and protest are placed between Kuala Lumpur as a site of study, each and every element of the boundary has increasingly embassy, reinforcing a degree become an archaic architectural of encounter and confrontation tool to determine those who have that has been lost through the privileged access from those sanitisation of the existing High who do not. When tackling Commission. a boundary, which acquires a physical thickness when built; it is this thickness which provides a measure for architecture to unfold its power upon bodies.
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This dissertation intends to explore the varying degrees of violence as imposed by the architectural line, while conditions of this line beyond its role in demarcating power in space. It is a product of various underlying tensions; legibility vs ambiguity, private vs public, boundaries vs thresholds, and past vs future.
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OUTDOOR COURTYARD CORRIDOR The newer order of lines confront the existing order by creating an anti-line; a line which destroys the physicality of the existing boundary lines. The boundary as a delineating architectural element is often
programmes. These corridors read as a monolithic solid wall from the exterior, but hides a concealed circulation space for the public and private.
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front line ARCHITECTURE IN MEDIATING POWER, POLITICS AND THE ERASURE OF HISTORY
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COMPOSITE FLOOR PLAN The programmes have been composed in a layering order; public, semipublic, semi-private and private. The lines cut through the site and the thus enforcing a degree of encounter and confrontation between the public and private.
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SECTIONAL ISOMETRIC OF THE COURTYARD AND PUBLIC OFFICES The courtyard is a void left behind by the removal of the existing High Commission, with its traces suggested by the leftover structural members and exposed footing systems. The spaces from the public the public and private.
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FRONT LINE
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FRONT LINE
The line in itself is the most abstract diagram of power as demarcates the extent of power within space, as evident in the drawing of state boundaries, territorial boundaries, modern urban design, land plots, and public vs private spaces. This idea can be extended into architecture as well, in which architecture is inherently a political apparatus that subtly in space. The boundary is as a line drawn on paper which acquires a physical thickness when built; it is this thickness which provides a measure for architecture to unfold its power upon bodies.
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The expression of power relationships within space is most evident in the design of diplomatic missions in foreign nations. The foreign embassy brings with it its own authority but while being on another country’s soil, it has to obey or navigate through the local authority. The embassy not only becomes a manifestation of a sovereign state’s values, but also the relationship between these values and those of the host country. I chose to focus on the relationship between the countries of Malaysia and Singapore, due to their complex shared history, similar cultural understanding and uneasy symbiotic relationship.
Using the existing High Commission of Singapore in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as a site of study, the boundary becomes an important spatial exclusion as a means of self-defense. The existing embassy itself is a panoptic structure established after the separation of Singapore from the Federation of Malaysia in 1965; it is a small courtyard building centrally located within a vast compound as a form of passive surveillance of the site’s boundaries. In recent years however, the development of high-rise residential and commercial towers in the adjacent sites have subverted this idea of surveillance and
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‘SPACES HAVE CHARACTERISTICS THAT AFFECT THE CONDITIONS IN WHICH POWER CAN BE EXERCISED’. Paul Hirst, Power, War and Architecture
created a synopicon, so that those surveying has now become the surveyed. This dissertation intends to explore the varying degrees of violence as imposed by the architectural line, while conditions of this line beyond its role in demarcating power in space. It is a product of various underlying tensions; legibility vs ambiguity, private vs public, boundaries vs thresholds, and past vs future. >
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FRONT LINE
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LEGIBILITY VS AMBIGUITY
PRIVATE VS PUBLIC
BOUNDARIES VS THRESHOLDS
The architectural plan is an apparatus of power in itself. It is an architectural drawing which provides intimate knowledge of the building’s functions and weaknesses.
The existing High Commission of Singapore in Kuala Lumpur uses boundaries as a means of excluding the Malaysian public from the building proper. It is bounded by a 2-meter tall doublewalled concrete fence, with its main street
This project aims to challenge the idea of the boundary as a means of spatial exclusion. It has increasingly become an archaic tool to determine those who have access from those who do not, as evident from a study of the existing High Commission of Singapore.
The plan is a privileged document provided to the patron and not normally disclosed to the public. The gaze of the plan from above - is from a position of power and control. The project has been designed so that the building is clearly legible in plan, but the plan does not disclose the full complexity of the building, which is designed to confuse potential visitors.
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concrete Jersey barrier. By denying total spatial exclusion within this project, I have used the architectural language of ‘the line’ as a means of not also to connect spaces. The line is thus architectural elements; permeable boundaries, impermeable boundaries, thresholds, physical access, visual access, bodily access and program.
When tackling perceived spatial discrimination, there can be a strong metaphor in moving something from the center, to the periphery as with the new High Commission. Through an object/ architecture, the physicality of the diplomatic process is fragmented so that spaces for public congregation and protest are placed between each and every element of embassy, reinforcing
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PAST VS FUTURE
a degree of encounter and confrontation that has been lost through the sanitisation of the existing High Commission. The boundary as a delineating architectural element is often spaceless in itself, although it spaces. This project aims to challenge that by inhabiting the boundary as a space in itself, as a means of circulation or programmes.
Once considered as a single nation and sharing a common history, the relationship between Malaysia and Singapore has been both amicable and heavily polarised since Singapore was expelled / achieved independence from the Federation of Malaysia in 1965.
is suggested by the void. The spaces of the new embassy is designed around this void, and this void becomes a main space where the public and private collide.
The new High Commission of Singapore in Kuala Lumpur is conceived as a metaphor of this ever-changing relationship, where the order of the existing is confronted by the order of the new. The existing building is symbolic of the archaic disciplinary power which site by a foreign entity; its removal is symbolic of the dissolution of this power and traces of its existence 019
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FRONT LINE
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ISOMETRIC OF THE CAFE AND RESTAURANT Untreated render The inclusion of public programmes seeks to engage with the busy street life of Lorong Kuda and Jalan Tun Razak. This thus blurs the lines between the extent of extraterritoriality of the embassy: am I still under Malaysian jurisdiction while dining here? Or am I under Singaporean jurisdiction? Who truly has control over this space? The cafe and restaurant is located at the intersection of the main public circulation within the site.
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ISOMETRIC OF THE PRIVATE RESIDENCES Untreated render The built form of these residences are confronted and penetrated by lines of public circulation, thus reinforcing the degree of encounter and confrontation. Despite the perceived threat from such exposure to the public, these residences have been designed so that the public are not able to physically access these spaces, despite being able to look into them. In the event of a security breach, there are concealed safe rooms and circulation space which seek to keep the
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PUBLIC OFFICES
in space. Singapore seeks to add to its growing stock of human capital by granting permanent residency to skilled migrants from Malaysia. The new High Commission accommodates for this national interest by having a dedicated space and system to expedite the granting of these visas to Malaysians.
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OUTDOOR COURTYARD SPACE / FORMER HIGH COMMISSION The existing building is symbolic of the archaic disciplinary power symbolic of the dissolution of this power and traces of its existence is suggested by the void. The spaces of the new embassy is designed around this void, and this void becomes a main space where the public and private collide.
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FRONT LINE
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CAFE AND RESTAURANT Untreated render The inclusion of public programmes seeks to engage with the busy street life of Lorong Kuda and Jalan Tun Razak. This thus blurs the lines between the extent of extraterritoriality of the embassy: am I still under Malaysian jurisdiction while dining here? Or am I under Singaporean jurisdiction? Who truly has control over this space? As with the outdoor courtyard corridor spaces, lines which have been translated into built boundaries also accommodate seating areas, thus reinforcing the idea of inhabiting the boundary.
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FRONT LINE
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PRIVATE RESIDENCES OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER AND EMBASSY STAFF The built form of these residences are confronted and penetrated by lines of public circulation, thus reinforcing the degree of encounter and confrontation. Despite the perceived threat from such exposure to the public, these residences have been designed so that the public are not able to physically access these spaces, despite being able to look into them. In the event of a security breach, there are concealed safe rooms harm.
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research background CONTEXTUAL RESEARCH THEORETICAL RESEARCH LITERATURE RESEARCH
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contextual research MALAYSIAN-SINGAPOREAN BILATERAL RELATIONS EMBASSY TYPOLOGIES
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LOCATION OF KUALA LUMPUR AND SINGAPORE
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CONTENTIOUS ISSUES Graphical summary of the contentious issues between Malaysia and Singapore
Malaysia and Singapore were considered as a singular nation until the separation of Singapore from the Federation of Malaysia in 1965. There have been multiple historical interpretations of this event alone; Malaysian texts state that Singapore was expelled from the Federation
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while Singaporean texts claim achieved independence and autonomous rule. However, both interpretations agree that this event was brought about interests in politics, linguistics, racial, religious and economic issues.
exists an uneasy symbiosis between the two countries. For instance, Singapore relies on Malaysia for over 50 percent of its water supply due to its own scarcity of natural resources. Malaysia depends on Singaporean investments for the development of its southern states.
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Relations with Singapore under the tenure of Mahathir Mohamad, the Prime Minister of Malaysia from 1981 to 2003, were stormy. Contentious issues which were raised during his administration have yet to be resolved at the time of print. These include: the price of raw water paid by Singapore to Malaysia (RM0.03 per
1000 gallons); the proposed and Central Provident Fund replacement of the Causeway by withdrawal issues. a suspension bridge; Singapore’s reclamation work which is Bilateral relations have since improved under the tenure Port Tanjung Pelepas; the of Malaysian Prime Minister use of Malaysian airspace by Abdullah Badawi. Despite this Republic of Singapore Air Force improvement, these unresolved jets; the claim on Pedra Branca issues could tip the delicate Island; the sovereignty of the power balance that exists railway line cross Singapore; between the two countries. 039
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FRONT LINE
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THE EXISTING HIGH COMMISSION OF SINGAPORE The existing embassy itself is a panoptic structure established after the separation of Singapore from the Federation of Malaysia in 1965; it is a small courtyard building centrally located within a vast compound as a form of passive surveillance of the site’s boundaries. In recent years however, the development of high-rise residential and commercial towers in the adjacent sites have subverted this idea of surveillance and created a synopicon, so that those surveying has now become the surveyed.
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FRONT LINE
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THE EXISTING HIGH COMMISSION OF SINGAPORE, KUALA LUMPUR The existing High Commission of Singapore in Kuala Lumpur uses boundaries as a means of excluding the Malaysian public from the building proper. It is bounded by a 2-meter tall double-walled concrete fence, with its main street
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Physical representation of nation’s values
Meets or exceeds the standards of safety and security
Safe and conducive for the conduct of diplomacy
Responds to the local context
Functionally simple and spatially
DESIGN GUIDELINES FOR DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS US Department of State
The embassy is symbolic of the national values of a sovereign state and the relationships between these values and that of the host country. The embassy
by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961. Attacks against embassies
become a form of attack against sovereign states which occur remotely of that state. The motivation behind these attacks are usually associated beliefs. These attacks are usually the result of illegal action; a violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961.
The design of an embassy becomes a manifestation of the power relationships between the embassy country and the host country. The embassy thus becomes a form of propaganda machine; a means to perpetuate one’s national values within a foreign context.
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FRANCE 12 attacks
UNITED STATES 35 attacks
UNITED KINGDOM 7 attacks
DENMARK 5 attacks
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RUSSIA 11 attacks
TURKEY 6 attacks
JAPAN 5 attacks
ISRAEL 7 attacks
PAKISTAN 7 attacks
TARGETED NATIONS OF ATTACKED EMBASSIES Targeted embassies are predominantly from developed and / or Western countries. The United States are the most frequently targeted, with over 35 attacks in the last century.
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LIBYA
4 dead, 7 attacks
SY
4 dead,
KE
212 dea
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TURKEY
79 dead, 3 attacks
LEBANON
139 dead, 4 attacks
IRAN
9 dead, 8 attacks
YA
attacks
SYRIA
4 dead, 7 attacks
KENYA
212 dead, 1 attack
PAKISTAN
41 dead, 5 attacks
AFGHANISTAN 18 dead, 7 attacks
LOCATIONS OF ATTACKED EMBASSIES
zones or developing countries, particularly in the Middle East. This is West.
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theoretical research POWER AND PLACEMAKING INDIVIDUAL PLACEMAKING TERRITORIAL PLACEMAKING URBAN PLACEMAKING
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TOPOS IS A PLACE OF BELONGING. IT IS DISTINCT FROM SPACE, WHICH IS DEFINED BY LENGTH, WIDTH, AND DEPTH. YET THERE IS A DEFINITE RELATIONSHIP OF COMMUNITY OR CONFLICT BETWEEN THE NATURE OF BODIES AND THE NATURE OF PLACES: EVERY PHYSICAL ELEMENT SEEKS “ITS” PLACE, THE PLACE THAT BELONGS AND CORRESPONDS TO IT, AND IT FLEES FROM ANY OTHER OPPOSED TO IT.
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EARLY PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIES My initial investigations were instigated from an interest in place and placemaking; in particular how the act of placemaking in itself has
assert their power by marking their territory and leaving traces of their habitation. These traces are evidence of their re-appropriation of existing spaces in order to create a place for themselves.
in asserting power within space. My interest led me to of placemaking: individual, territory, building and urban. At the individual scale, I had conducted photographic studies of international students’ bedrooms, to document the ways in which they create their own ‘place’ within a foreign environment. These individuals
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EARLY PHOTOGRAPHIC STUDIES
challenged through the illegal re-appropriation of that space.
After documenting the traces of placemaking within the private sphere, I expanded my photographic research to include the traces of placemaking in the public
Subsequently, I started of how governments have tried to assert their authority within the spatial realm through architecture and urban design.
appropriate public spaces as a means of self-expression. Architecture is used to delineate a place from a space; to separate the private from the public. Architecture thus becomes an act of placemaking to assert power in the spatial realm by an individual or an organisation. This act of power can be
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FRONT LINE
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CASE STUDIES
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URBAN PLACEMAKING Ink, graphite, boxboard and mixed media on 420 x 297mm C.รก grain paper, 2013
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VIOLENT RE-APPROPRIATION OF EXISTING PLACES Ink, graphite, boxboard and mixed media on 420 x 297mm C.รก grain paper, 2013
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DESIGN EXPLORATION OF SPATIAL STRATEGIES Ink, graphite, white Conte, boxboard and screencard on 420 x 297mm C.รก. grain paper, 2013
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literature research LETHAL THEORY BY EYAL WEIZMAN FRAMING PLACES BY KIM DOVEY
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‘...SOLDIERS USED NONE OF THE STREETS, ROADS, ALLEYS OR COURTYARDS THAT CONSTITUTE THE SYNTAX OF THE CITY, AND NONE OF THE EXTERNAL DOORS, INTERNAL STAIRWELLS AND WINDOWS THAT CONSTITUTE THE ORDER OF BUILDINGS, BUT RATHER MOVED HORIZONTALLY THROUGH PARTY WALLS, AND VERTICALLY THROUGH HOLES BLASTED IN CEILINGS AND FLOORS. THIS FORM OF MOVEMENT... SOUGHT TO REDEFINE INSIDE AS OUTSIDE, AND DOMESTIC INTERIORS AS THOROUGHFARES. RATHER THAN SUBMIT TO THE AUTHORITY OF CONVENTIONAL SPATIAL BOUNDARIES AND LOGIC, MOVEMENT BECAME CONSTITUTIVE OF SPACE.’ Eyal Weizman, Lethal Theory
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‘POWER IS NOT LODGED INERTLY IN BUILT FORM. FORCE, COERCION, DOMINATION, MANIPULATION, SEDUCTION AND AUTHORITY ARE FORMS OF EVERYDAY PRACTICE WHICH ARE INEVITABLY MEDIATED BY BUILT FORM.’ Kim Dovey, Framing Places
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VISIBLE FORMS OF POWER _
_
MEDIATION OF POWER
Force The overt exercise
_
INVISIBLE FORMS OF POWER
_ _
Manipulation
of power which
A form of coercion
strips the subject
which operates
of any choice of
primarily by
non-compliance
keeping the
Coercion
subject ignorant
The threat of
through the
force to ensure
concealment of
compliance
intent
Domination
_
Manipulates the
architecture,
interests and
urban design and
desires of the
can signify a threat of force
_ _ _
Seduction
Forms of
spatial behaviour
_
_ _
subject
_
_
Authority The need for
_
Orientation / disorientation Publicity / privacy Segregation / access Nature / history Stability / change Authentic / fake Identity / Dominant / docile Place / ideology
legitimisation increases as power becomes totalising
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LITERATURE REVIEW
ways a perception of space changes in times of warfare he discusses how the Israeli Defense Forces derived an ‘operational theory’ as part of their military strategy from the works of Tschumi, Deleuze and Guattari. It is important to note how the perception of architectural elements thus changes in times
‘move through the party walls’, by blasting down internal walls.
strategy is to ‘smooth out space’; referencing Deleuze and Guattari’s ideas in A Thousand Plateaus. The wall is no longer seen as a boundary or obstruction to movement, but rather as a potential circulation space.
I became familiar with Dovey’s writings on power and stairwells, streets, roads, alleys placemaking as a student of and courtyards are no longer his last semester. Reviewing viewed as potential circulation his work became useful in spaces as they are prone to mediating the gaps in my initial attack. Instead, the IDF chose to research.
My initial research focused heavily on visible and physical manifestation of power within the built form, as seen in monuments, government buildings and planned cities; however Dovey has also mentioned that power is not only mediated through visible forms but also invisible forms. As a result, my ideas have developed to include these invisible forms as a design strategy to mediate power within the embassy.
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concept development CONCEPTUAL SKETCHES CONCEPTUAL MODEL
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CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT Within the private areas, the architecture manifests a more visible form of power. It reacts and responds to imminent threats from the host country by providing protection to the occupants of the building and transforming common architectural elements into structures with a more defensive role.
power in private areas. This manifestation of power thus leads to an escalation of tension between these two countries.
The embassy becomes a weapon forms of power within a foreign context. The form of power programmes within the embassy i.e. invisible forms of power in public areas, and visible forms of 093 B5 Book.indd 93
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INITIAL CONCEPTUAL DRAWING Graphite and Adobe Photoshop on 420 x 297mm C.รก grain paper, 2013
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INITIAL CONCEPTUAL MODEL
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design process DIAGRAMMING
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LAYERING OF PROGRAMS PRIVATE RESIDENCES
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PRIVATE ADMIN
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ADMIN
PUBLIC ADMIN
PUBLIC
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CAFE / RESTAURANT
MULTIPURPOSE HAL
VISA
CONFERENCE ROOM
MEETING MEETING ROOM ROOM
AIDE’S OFFICE DEFENCE OFFICE
OFFICES
AMBASSADOR’S OFFICE
AMBASSADOR’S RESIDENCE
AIDE’S RESIDENCE
STAFF RESIDENCE
PROGRAMMATIC ORGANISATION
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LTIPURPOSE HALL
VISA
TRAINING WORKSHOPS
OFFICES
LIBRARY
CE
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PHYSICAL BOUNDARIES ITERATION ONE
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FRONT LINE
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PHYSICAL THRESHOLD ITERATION TWO
B5 Book.indd 106
10/29/2013 9:06:45 AM
107 B5 Book.indd 107
FRONT LINE
10/29/2013 9:06:45 AM
PHYSICAL THRESHOLD
B5 Book.indd 108
10/29/2013 9:06:45 AM
109 B5 Book.indd 109
FRONT LINE
10/29/2013 9:06:46 AM
PHYSICAL THRESHOLD ITERATION ONE
B5 Book.indd 110
10/29/2013 9:06:46 AM
111 B5 Book.indd 111
FRONT LINE
10/29/2013 9:06:46 AM
VISUAL THRESHOLD
B5 Book.indd 112
10/29/2013 9:06:46 AM
113 B5 Book.indd 113
FRONT LINE
10/29/2013 9:06:46 AM
VISUAL THRESHOLD ITERATION ONE
B5 Book.indd 114
10/29/2013 9:06:47 AM
115 B5 Book.indd 115
FRONT LINE
10/29/2013 9:06:47 AM
VISUAL THRESHOLD ITERATION TWO
B5 Book.indd 116
10/29/2013 9:06:47 AM
117 B5 Book.indd 117
FRONT LINE
10/29/2013 9:06:47 AM